Members and Associate Members of ESCAP are currently undertaking a review of their progress since the inception of the Asia Pacific CRVS Decade in 2014. A questionnaire has been distributed to National CRVS focal points and should be returned to ESCAP by 15 September.
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The CRVS applied research training (CART) initiative focuses on enhancing CRVS systems through supporting applied research on strategies, interventions, and tools. This involves designing projects to address practical questions, employing robust methodologies, and identifying key personnel for effective implementation and publication. The need to strengthen practitioners' research capacity is evident, as highlighted in the Asia-Pacific CRVS research forum held in 2023.
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To meet the targets of the CRVS Decade, a Business Process Improvement approach can help improve and streamline Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. The CRVS Systems Improvement Framework help CRVS stakeholders assess, analyze and redesign, to improve user experience and produce timely vital statistics.
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The Ministerial Declaration on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific emphasizes the need to address CRVS inequalities among hard-to-reach and marginalized populations, promoting universality and equity in civil registration regardless of factors such as gender, religion, or ethnicity. Countries are encouraged to conduct assessments to assess where such inequalities may exist.
Read MoreThe CRVS community in Asia and the Pacific has reflected on where it stands at the midpoint of the CRVS Decade (2015-2024) during the Second Ministerial Conference. Following this celebration of progress, many of our partners and member countries are leading actions to fill the remaining gaps. To learn more about CRVS in Asia and the Pacific, please subscribe to our newsletter, which offers a monthly panorama of CRVS actions throughout the region Previous editions can be found here. |
The 7th Border Management and Identity Conference (BMIC) took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 11th to 13th, 2024. The event centered around the theme "The Future of Borders and Borders of the Future: Accelerating Seamless and Secure Cross-Border Travel and Trade with Technological Solutions and Re-engineered Identity Management Processes."
The 7th Border Management and Identity Conference (BMIC) took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 11th to 13th, 2024. The event centered around the theme "The Future of Borders and Borders of the Future: Accelerating Seamless and Secure Cross-Border Travel and Trade with Technological Solutions and Re-engineered Identity Management Processes."
The last 2024 quarterly meeting for the Civil Registration Professionals of South Asia (CR8) took place virtually on 25 November 2024 and offered the opportunity to share updates on key areas of work and discuss preparations in the lead up to the Third Ministerial Conference. Specific themes for experience sharing for Q4 2024 meeting were inequality assessment, waiving fees for birth registration, and CRVS advocacy.
On the sidelines of the 9th Committee on Statistics in Bangkok, countries had a chance to share transformative work and strategies they have been implementing towards strengthening CRVS and UNICEF presented on the new global birth registration estimates. The discussions highlighted innovative measures to increase CRVS coverage and ensure inclusivity, particularly among underserved populations.
Over the past decade, the Asia-Pacific region has significantly advanced its civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, notably reducing unregistered births. Despite this progress, challenges persist, such as enhancing the completeness of CRVS data and addressing disparities in access to these services. This Stats Café will explore countries' experiences in estimating the completeness of vital events and explore qualitative research on CRVS inclusivity, with inclusivity a central theme for the upcoming Ministerial Conference on CRVS.
Date: Monday 27 January 2025
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, has commended Parliament for passing the Civil and Identity Registry Bill, which aims to create a comprehensive registry for births, deaths, marriages, and other vital records. This new law replaces the Civil Registration Act and is expected to significantly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of population data collection.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) just released a report showcasing the latest global update on birth registration.
The report, titled "The Right Start in Life: Global Levels and Trends in Birth Registration," reveals that while global birth registration rates have increased from 75% in 2019 to 77% today, millions of children still remain unregistered and invisible to government systems. Over 150 million children under five remain unregistered, leaving them vulnerable and excluded from essential services. Approximately 50 million of these live in Asia and the Pacific.
The Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific will be held in June 2025. To ensure the voices of children, youth, and civil society are heard, ESCAP, CRC Asia, World Vision, Plan International, UNICEF and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) will lead the organization a joint Young People and Civil Society Forum on 4 - 6 March, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. Pre-consultations in specific countries are planned over the coming months to engage with existing CSO networks and gather input from stakeholders before the regional event in March.
